[Subcutaneous implantation of tissue-engineered heart valve leaflets in nude mice].

Objective: To investigate the viability of tissue-engineered heart valve leaflets prepared with cell-polymer constructs in nude mice.

Methods: Sheep endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells/fibroblasts were seeded on patches of PHA and implanted subcutaneously in athymic mice (BALB/C). The cell-polymer constructs were harvested 12, 14, 21 and 28 days after implantation.

[An improved method for the isolation of rat hepatic stellate cells].

Objective: To present an improved method to obtain pure, viable, freshly isolated hepatic stellate cells.

Methods: Adult male SD rats were used. All procedures were performed with the animals under sodium pentobarbital anesthesia.

Effect of basic fibroblast growth factor and hyaluronic acid on proliferation of rabbit chondrocytes in vitro.

Objective: To investigate the effect of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and hyaluronic acid (HA) on the proliferation of rabbit chondrocytes in vitro.

Methods: Chondrocytes from the knee joints of New Zealand white rabbits were cultured. bFGF or HA or both were added into the culture medium respectively, and the proliferation of the chondrocytes was measured with MTT 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl) 2, 5-diphenyl-tetra-zolium bromide.

Glivec enhances the down-regulated cytotoxicity of adriamycin in acquired tamoxifen-resistant MCF-7 cell line.

Objective: To study the alteration of bax, bcl-2, p170 expressing and the second effect on the adriamycin (ADR) induced cytotoxicity in acquired tamoxifen (TAM)-resistant MCF-7 cell line.

Methods: The bax, bcl-2, p170 protein expressions were detected by flow cytometry respectively, as well as the content of intracellular ADR. The in vitro adenosine triphosphate tumor chemosensitivity assay (ATP-TCA) was performed to evaluate the cytotoxicity of ADR, and also the effect of Glivec on the cytotoxicity of ADR.